When local energy giant Exelon Corp. last week announced plans to invest nearly $5 billion in clean energy products, many green ears perked up. The fine print may be a bit more complicated. The company aims to reduce its carbon footprint by investing in energy-efficient and renewable energy programs. Exelon also wants to increase output at its nuclear plants.

Exelon owns or operates seven nuclear facilities in Illinois. It also plans to soon close a couple of money losing coal-fired plants.

So, are company officials making this investment out of concern for the environment or their bottom line? To help decipher Eight Forty-Eight's spoke with business contributor David Greising.

Correction: An earlier web version of this story misstated that Exelon Corp. owns two controversial coal-fired power plants in the Chicago area.Exelon sold the plants in question to Midwest Generation.